Shoe-lace fastener.



Patented Apr. 30, 190i.

H. H. NORTHRUP. suoauca FASTENER.

(Application filed Jan. 3, 1901.

(No Model.)

m1. WASHINGTON u c UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. NORTHROP, OF'MONROETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,986, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed January 3, 1901. b'erial No. 42,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. NoRTHRoP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monroeton, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lace Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fasteners for shoelaces and the like; and the object of the same is to provide a simple and effective device which can be easily applied to a shoe or the like and overcome the necessity of tying or knottiug a lace and adapted to be used by a person having but one hand and also avoid the usual binding efiect of the lace when tied across the front portion of the ankle Without the liability of accidental loosening and with materially less delay in securing and releasing the lace. v

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a shoe, showing the improved fastener applied to one side thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the improved fastener. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The improved fastener is adapted to be applied to one or both sides of the top portion of a shoe-upper, on a glove, boot, or the like,

- and one of the main advantages of the present construction in addition to the convenience in securing the lace extremities is that in applying the same no eyelets or speciallyset devices are necessary to secure it in place, as will hereinafter appear. The improved device is also formed of sheet metal and comprises a body 1, converged toward one end and bent at a right angle to provide a terminal securing-prong 2,which is freely bendable, and at the opposite extremity of the said body is a pair of similar prongs 3, one on each side. These prongs are inserted through slits formed in the device, to which the fastener is applied, and bent inward or otherwise to firmly hold the said fastener in applied position. Bent over the body and forming an integral part thereof at one end is a springtongue 4, which is preferably of less width than the body and has a rolled or bent free end 5 located close to the reduced extremity of the latter. A space is provided between the tongue and the body, and said tongue is transversely inclined toward one edge of the body, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, so that a clamp will be formed to bind against the lace extremity and prevent accidental disengagement thereof.

When the'fastener is applied, as shown by Fig. 1, the inclination of the tongue will be downward and nearest the lacing devices of the shoe, boot, or glove, and the operation is as follows: After the lace extremity has been placed in proper engagement with the lacing devices of the shoe, boot, glove, or other device it is drawn between the rolled or bent tween the free end of the tongue and the rear extremity of the body. These operations can be readily and rapidly carried on by a person having but one hand or by the use of one hand, and if two lace extremities are secured on opposite sides of the shoe both hands can be used to arrive at the result sought, or both lace extremities in some instances can be placed in engagement with a single lace-fastener of the character set forth.

The improved fastener can be cheaply manufactured, andin its use will avoid the inconvenience arising from tying and untying lace extremities, and also the annoyance incident to a bind of the tied lace across the front of the ankle. It is proposed to plate or otherwise ornament the improved device, and the shape may be varied without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is As an improved article of manufacture a lace-fastener having a body reduced toward its rear extremity and bent to provide a terminal prong, the front extremity of the body having a similar prong on each side, and a tongue integrally formed with the front extremity of the body and bent over the outer side of the latter, an entrance-opening being formed between the free end of the tongue [0 and the reduced rear extremity of the body,

the said tongue being bodily inclined in wardly toward one side edge of the body.

In testimony that I claim'the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. NORTHROP.

Witnesses:

O. L. SMILEY, W. G. SCHRIER. 

